Monday 22 September 2008

4th Waterford Unit, St Joseph's, Abbeyside Scout Group Notes 22nd September, 2008.

4th Waterford

St Joseph’s

Abbeyside

Scouting Ireland

Cub Scout Pack, Scout Troop & Venture Scout Group Notes

22/09/2008

Kwahadi Dancers To Visit Waterford

As part of their 2009 European Show Tour of the Kwahadi Dancers, Venturing Crew 9, BSA are all set to visit County Waterford. On Wednesday, July 22nd to Thursday, July 23rd the 4th Waterford Unit Abbeyside Scout Group will host the Kwahadi Dancers, Venturing Crew 9, BSA. The Kwahadi Dancers are a unique youth performing group from the “Crown of Texas”, the Panhandle area of the Texas High Plains. the Kwahadis present their colorful pageant of song, dance, and stories of the American Indian. The Kwahadis are the most tenured performing group in Texas! Officially Venture Crew Nine of the Golden Spread Council, BSA, over 1600 young men and ladies have presented over 3800 performances since 1944 in 46 states and overseas! They were honoured by being given the name “Kwahadi” by the Elders of the Comanche Nation. To find out more about the Kwahadi Dancers look them up on www.kwahadi.com.

Future Of Cub Scout Pack

We here in the 4th Waterford Unit, Abbeyside Group of Scouting Ireland have continuously, since 1930 provided scouting to the young people of Abbeyside and beyond! In those seventy plus years, hundreds of young people have joined the Group and by following the Scout programme have enjoyed and taken part in all sorts of adventures locally, nationally and abroad! We currently offer the Scout programme to young people through both the Cub and Scout sections, which cover an age range from eight to sixteen plus years of age. At this time and because of the commitment and hard work of the Leaders within the Cub Section which holds its meetings on Thursday nights the Cub Section has grown in numbers at a phenomenal rate! Indeed the section has grown so large that it is no longer able to function as it should and as such it has been decided by the Group Council, that a “second Cub Section” will come into operation within the coming weeks. The Leaders are currently drawing up plans for this second Section which will meet on a week night not yet decided. A waiting list is in operation currently for the present Cub Section and it is envisaged that these young people will become members of the “new” Section along with some Cubs from the current Section! The leaders are hoping to have perhaps 25-30 members in each of the Cub sections. We have in the past and for a long number of years had two successful Cub sections. It is a sign of the success of the Cub programme that we are heading in this direction. In the coming weeks you will receive more information about the plans for the second Section and the short term impact it may or may not have on your son/s attending Cubs on Thursday Nights.

Yours in Scouting, Brian Mulvihill Group Leader, Jim Shine Chairman

Calendar Of Events

We have put our Activities onto an on-line Calendar, you can see these on the Blog Spot or the Abbeyside Scout Group site.

Full Uniform

A Full Uniform is Black Polished Shoes/Boots, Navy/Black Socks, Uniform Trousers, Uniform Belt, Uniform Jumper (Cubs), Uniform Shirt (Scouts), Group Neckerchief (Plus a Spare), Woggle (Plus a Spare), Lanyard (Scouts), Whistle (Scouts), Badges, Group Cap, Uniform Jacket (Scouts). Scouts have been advised if buying hiking boots then they should maybe try and get black ones that way they can be used as part of their uniform and save on getting shoes.

Any Venture, Scout or Cub in the Unit longer than six weeks should have this Uniform. Scouting Ireland is a Uniformed Organisation. The Venture, Scout and Cub Scout Uniforms are all available from the Outdoor Adventure Store, Mc Curtain Street, Cork. Just ask the Leaders and they will help you out. If there is anyone who has been in the Cubs or Scouts and wishes to pass on their Uniform in part or full contact one of the Leaders. Thank You.

Web Site

Keep up to date with all the happenings of the 4th Waterford through our web pages, on the blog www.abbeyside.blogspot.com and www.abbeysidescoutgroup.com, which we are currently updating. We would be only happy to hear any comments you may have. Check out our Glenshelane Scout Campsite & Cabin to see how things are there too on www.glenshelanescoutcampsite.com E-Mails us any pictures you may have either for the paper or to put on the blog site, if you have a bebo or other page that would be a suitable link forward it on, also to scribe@abbeysidescoutgroup.com

Cub Scout Pack - News & Information

Thursday Night Cub Pack Meeting

Our meeting this week started with the saying of the Cub Scout Prayer by Evan followed by subs being taken up by Section Leader Gearoid. Annual registration monies and both registration forms were also taken up. Any Cub that has yet to hand back his forms is asked to do so by this week’s meeting please. Gearoid then informed those present that there would be some big changes in the Cub Pack for the coming year, one of them being in the form of the Leaders that the Cubs would see this term. He told the Cubs that Michael Organ will no longer available due to university commitments and Brendan wouldn't be around as often as last year which got a mixed reaction! Gearoid then introduced his two Assistant Leaders for this year, Mandy Roberts and Claire Guilfoyle who between them have many years of experience and knowledge and will be a great asset to the Cub Pack. Some of the new Cubs then introduced themselves to the Cub Pack before the Clan Leaders and Assistant Clan Leaders did likewise so as we could all get to know each other. A few relay games were then played to get the adrenalin going such as clan relay and a new relay game where the cubs had to hop with a small ball between their knees and the first clan to finish as always was the winner. A few games of this was played to get everyone used to it and so they can show those missing how to play it in future. Then a Cub Pack favourite was played, yes, Dodge Ball, this game is always great fun.

Our Group Leader Brian Mulvihill then made a visit to hand out a notice to the Cubs to bring home and explain to the Cubs that due to the rising numbers in the Cub Pack it was decided that a second Cub night would be starting in a few weeks. This would be made up of some of the Cubs from the Thursday night meeting, some of the new Cubs and people who we have on a waiting list to join at the moment. The second night has yet to be decided but we do know that our Group Leader Brian, is putting together a team of Leaders for this night. Evan then said the final prayer and everyone was dismissed.

Contact

If there are any questions about the Activities or the Abbeyside Cub Scout Pack in general then you can contact Gearoid Fraher, Cub Scout Pack, Section Leader on 087-2034172 or any of the other Abbeyside Leaders. If a Cub is unable to attend any Activity, Event or Meeting, you are asked to please lets us know in advance, this can be done by text or phone on the above number. If you have any questions you can E-Mail the Cub Scout Pack on cubpack@abbeysidescoutgroup.com and Gearoid will get back in contact with you as soon as he can.

New Members

Our books are presently closed to new members. If there is anyone who may be interested in joining the Cubs have a Parent/Guardian call Gearoid on the above mobile number or talk to one of the Leaders to have their name put on a waiting list. The Cub age is from 8 years to 10½ /11 years.

Cub Pack Meeting

The Cub Pack Meeting Night is on a Thursday night from seven fifteen to nine o’clock.

Scout Troop – News & Information

Saturday Night Scout Troop Meeting

This week’s meeting was Full Uniform and began at the normal time of seven. The saying of the Scout Prayer followed ‘Fall In’. the topic for revision tonight was Knots, so as attendance was done by Gearoid each patrol showed the new Scouts the basic Knots. This was carried on in the next section of the meeting as the three Patrols did different activities, Eammon and Claire covered Knots helping those unsure of any of the knots. Michael and Joe covered Kim’s Games, Observation, for this 50 items were placed on the table and each Patrol was given two minutes to memorise the items and five minutes afterwards to write them down. Gearoid and Brendan did Uniform Inspection, some basic drill movements, Scout Sign and Scout Salute. Michael and Joe gave the results of the observation game, Chris Janes APL did the best at 20/50. We will see if we can get the scores a lot higher as the year goes on. The items were also shown to the Troop so they see what they missed out on. With the knots there is always room for improvement and again these will be brushed up on as we progress through the year before we move on to the next stage of pioneering. Uniform is always an area where small things let people down, missing badges, missing uniform parts, white socks, unpolished shoes and untidy uniform. Everyone was shown where they can make changes for the better. Drill will come with practice, and this will be done as part of the meeting over the coming weeks and months, building on what is learned previously.

Gearoid then ran a few relay games, as Claire covered the Waterford Scout County Mountain Pursuit Challenge in the Nire over the coming weekend. A game of crab soccer was organised by Gearoid before the end of the meeting. Everyone was told that next weeks meeting is non Uniform to give everyone a chance to get their badges onto their Uniforms. Next week we will be doing some cooking, so the Scouts need to bring some food Saying of the Scout Prayer finished off the meeting for this week. A court of honour with Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders followed the meeting. Patrol activity for the coming two months were talked about, with the Tiger Patrol still to put some ideas together. The Kestrel Patrol talk about a hike to the light house in Ballinacourty, while the Eagle Patrol are to go to Ballyvoile.

New Members

New members are always welcome so if there is anyone who may be interested in joining the Scouts have an adult call along with you to the meeting and talk to one of the Leaders. The Scout age is from 10½ years to 15/16 years. Scout Meetings are on a Saturday night from seven to nine. You can E-Mail the Abbeyside Scout Troop on scouttroop@abbeysidescoutgroup.com and Brendan will get in contact with you.

Venture Scout Group – Information

It is good to see Patrick of the Ventures down giving a hand with the Cub Pack. Some of the rest of the Ventures are also getting involved with the younger Scouts and Cubs. Well done lads. You can contact the Abbeyside Venture Scout Group by E-Mail on venturegroup@abbeysidescoutgroup.com and Sandy/Brian will get in contact with you.

Scribe.

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